GK: MAHILA POLICE VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE

The Mahila Police Volunteer initiative was launched in Haryana today. By launching the initiative in Karnal and Mahendragarh districts, Haryana became the first state to adopt this scheme.

Mahila Police Volunteer is a joint initiative with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Haryana today inducted the first batch of 1000 Mahila Police Volunteers. These volunteers have already been trained by the state State Police Authorities on their role and responsibility.

It envisages creation of a link between the police authorities and the local communities in villages through police volunteers who will be women specially trained for this purpose.

To supplement the ongoing efforts towards gender equality, the Mahila Police Volunteer Initiative was envisaged in collaboration with Ministry of Home Affairs to facilitate Police force through community volunteerism. Police plays an important role in safety and security of citizens in general and women in particular.

In order to provide a link between police and community and facilitate women in distress, one Mahila Police Volunteer (MPV) is envisaged per Gram Panchayat across the country. These will be selected through a laid out procedure from among the empowered, responsible, socially aware women who will facilitate police outreach on gender concerns.

The scheme was conceived way back in 2015.

A Mahila Police Volunteer must be from the same geographical area and conversant with the local dialects.

No criminal proceedings must have been instituted against her and she must not have been convicted or imprisoned for the violation of any criminal law.

A Mahila Police Volunteer should not be a member of any political party.

Mahila Police volunteers will directly report to the Circle Inspector in the Police Thana.

The Mahila Police volunteers are required to mobilize the community to form Mahila and Shishu Rakshak Dals (MASRD) to act as community watch groups.

A Mahila Police Volunteer is an honorary position and they are paid an honorarium of Rs 1,000 per month.

The MPVs will be provided training in counselling and legal literacy by the Ministry.

The volunteer will report incidences of missing children, violence against women such as domestic violence, child marriage, dowry harassment, trafficking and any other form of violence faced by women in both public and private spaces.

They will also help spreading awareness about services including women, police and children helpline numbers.

The first phase will be implemented on pilot basis in villages with high rate of crime against women and poor child sex ratio.